Preparing cigar wrappers



Sept-22, 1931. J. F. HALSTEAD PREPARING CIGAR WRAPPERS Filed June 20, 1930 2 Sheets-Shee 7w "aw/MM @GJ ATTORNEY P 1931- J. -F. HALSTEAD 1,824,400

PREPARING CIGAR WRAPPERS Filed June 20, 1930 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 [4 {I [a F 7 22 FIG. 7 16 2/ l I 44 22 Patented Sept. 22, 1931 JoriNrRnDRIK.HALsrEAD;.orBRoox YmNEw JYoRKQA'ssIGNQR TO INTERNATIONAL ..CIGAR.MACHI NERY;GOMPANY,iA CORPORATION. on EW JERSEY PREPARING CIGAR WBAPPERS application filea' June 20,

This; inventionrrelatesr to .12 method .of .cuttingwan'd applying arwrap-perxto :clgar bunchsand an lmprovedwvra-pper cutting and applying mechanism LfOI cigar.- machines,

.5, adapted to carrycout said method,-.its:.-main object 5' being to so.=;-arrange r the epositi'o'n of the wrapper eutting'bedrrelativeto the-opera-tor that: thevwrapper icanfbe iplaceldioni the cutting bed in. a manner: that- Will:'fa,VOIIitS= 1otight: rolling aroun di the cigar; bunch .in the wrapping mechanism, and avoid loosewrapping resulting. when the cutting bed'is placed in: the usual. manner. .Anotlier. object is to 1 so place the cutting bed relativestontheopera ator that in servingathe wrapper,;the inferior: portion of; the l leafssection fnext to the stem,2a=ndrnot' the best portion near the outer edge, will'be wasted; in the cntting operation.

With these vand:rothenjol a j ects not specifically...

are not- Wrappedrperfectly, that is,1-the= visible edgeaorzoverlapof theiwnapper could not be wrapped-tightly: :on: the-cigar qbunch m ployed for wrapping-cigars. .The cause of this was unknown, however, nuntil lI -made the discoverythat theooperator'of the cigar wrapping: machine, in applying. the tobacco F leaf'seeti-on to; the :wrapper cuttinghed to be cut, unconsciously.- stretched. the: nearereedge of-the leaf section with-waygreatertension than the further e', ,=l"ge,'. although instructed f to stretch both'edgesvwithequal tension. JBy

40 my discovery itwill bewseen that When-the nearer e e of the leaf section; is. so: superstretched itresults inacigar having a. looselywrapped overlap. in the .cigarjwrapper bemore; the improved arrangement brlngs th'e cause this edge :torms the overlap -offthe 45 apparatus.

. by the ordinary methodsandi' apparatus em cigar as wrapped: by ordinary methods and To avoid :these' defects, I have invented a novel I method? and an improved 1930. Serial N0. 462,583.

ing a tightlyiwrapped overlap in the wrap-1 per. 1

In the cutting beds, the wrapper leaf, in being stretched upon the 7 bed, becomes su-per-"v stretched at the near edgeand loose attl1ef fan edge so that, with the usual; relative Garrangementof cutting bed and-wrapping mechanism,- the superstretched sidexbecomes the inner or /covered edge ofyt-heqwrapper while; the: loose side becomes. the; outer edge or overlap, resulting in a loosely'wrappedi cigar ofinferior. quality. Furthermore, the veins; in the. cigar leaf impose certain'condL tions in serving-.thebedwhich, with-the or.- dinaryarrangement ofthebed andvwrapping mechanism, necessitate theiplacing of the leaf ins'uchpositioneas' to waste the best portion thereof: in cutting, the wrapper.

In the present invention, these :difiiculties'= are avoided by reversing the cutting bed 'so that, themanipulation of stretching the leaf section on the bed-causes: the overlap edge of thewrapper to besuperstretched and the covered edge to bearelaxed, thus producing a tight lapping ofthe wrap-per. when appliedto the cigar bunch inzthewra-ppingmeehanism.

ordinary types of suction-served When the leading orcovered edge oli ithe wrapper'has beenstretched on: the cutting bed so that, in wrapping, it. winds too tight- 1y around the cigar bunch, the overlap edge cannot'lie down snugly on the bunch. ;By reversing the construction, that is by.- so plac ing then-cutting bed with respect to theyoperator; to cause the trailing or overlap edge ofthe wrapper to be superstretched, .the lap-joints on the cigarwillalways' be tight, as then the 'leading edge, owing to itslooseness, will permit the overlap edge to lie zfiat on :the cigar hunch. .A cigar so I wrapped will: have a better appearance-1and i willt'notopen up when smoked. Furtherfiner portion of the leaf closer to the bed'in serving,--so that the-waste is out off the poorer portion. As-there is no faulty tendency to overcomeinserving the bed,-"the laying,

of the leaf section is much easier, andiop'erar gtors .will :require less tune .for learning.

ly it was concave to the same.

The reversing of the cutting bed, of course, necessitates a modification of the motion of the wrapper carrier, the same starting end of the wrappernow having to be brought from the opposite end of the cutting bed to the starting point of the wrapping cutting bed to the wrapping mechanism, the 25.

operation, at the tail or tuck end of the cigar bunch.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is a perspect1ve view showing a Etobacco leaf being stretched on thecutting bed by the operator; 7

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the path traveled by the wrapper from the dotted lines showing the cutting bed in the ordinary position and the full lines in the reversed position;

Fig. 3 is a top View of a cigar covered by a wrapper on a cutting bed in the ordinary position, illustrating the effect of the stretching of the leaf on the tightness of the wrapper folds; I

' Fig. 4 isa topview showing a leaf section placed on a cutting bed which is in the ordinary position; 7

Fig. 5 is a top view showing the same leaf section placed on a cutting bed which is in the reversed position; 1

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a wrapper car- -rier provided with means for effecting the modified movement requlred by the reversal of the cutting bed; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6. I i

In carrying the invention into effect, there is provided a method of, and apparatus for,

cutting and applying a cigar wrapper to a cigar bunch. In the best practice of the invention the method includes-stretching a tobacco leaf section over a wrapper cutting bed with the edge which is to form the overlap on the bunch superstretched, then cuttlng out a wrapper from said leaf section,

and then applying the wrapper .to a ci ar bunch. vAll the apparatus that is essential to the practice of the invention is a cutting bed positioned with its overlap side nearer the operator and a wrapper carrier. unit arranged to take the cut wrapper and de-- liver 1t to a cigar bunch to be wrapped.

When an operator stretchesa tobacco leaf on the cutting bed, the leaf section L, as shown 1n Fig. 1, for'reasons explained below, is held with its far side raised so as to first make contact with the cutting bed D at the side nearest the operator who then slides the leaf across the bed in order to spread it as evenly as possible before laying the remainder of the leaf. As the central portion of the near edge of the leaf comes to rest on the cutting bed, it is held fast thereon by the suction connected to the bed casing and acting on the leaf through openings 0, so that the subsequent forward mo tion of the operators hands, shown by the vertical arrows in Fig; l, superstretches the leafL in the-direction of the horizontal arrows and causes the leaf to curve away from the operator, with the result that the far side of the leaf relaxes and, when out into wrapper'shape, often even becomes more or less wrinkled, according to the condition of the tobacco. But, even if the cut wrapper apparently lies perfectly flat on the bed, this curving effect of the progressive suctionhold is great enough to cause a considerable difference in the. tension between the forward and rear edge of the wrapper thereby producing a variance from its true shape.

VVith the'o rdinary position of the cutting bed, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the loose orrelaxed edge of the wrapper, when applied to the cigar, forms the overlap edges of the turns, producing poor, partly open joints as shown in an exaggerated manner in Fig. 3. With the cutting bed reversed, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the superstretched edge of the wrapper forms the overlap edge of the finished cigar while the on the leaf from the flag end of the bed towards the tuck-end, and the portion of the leaf which covers the head-end, technically known as the flag, must be free of veins. In order to comply with these conditions on a cutting bed as ordinarily placed, Fig. 4:, the leaf section L must be gripped at its outer edge It and must be placed on the bed as far away from theoperator as possible, sothat the operator can watch the flag F while feeding the leaf and see that the same will be located on the bed withthe flag between two veins. This procedure brings the stem-edge S of the leaf section close to the 1 near side of the bed D 'andthus wastes the portion R of the leaf overhanging the far side of the bed, provided the overhang is notlarge enough to out a second wrapper.

With the bed r'eversed,Fig. 5. the leaf section L must also'be reversed so as to have the veins run in the proper direction, and the leaf section will thus be gripped at the stem side S, causing the latter to overhang when the rim-edge'R of the leaf has been val brought into: final-position .1 close .to the bed D. In this.case,therefore, the outer'or: thin part of f the ieafis use'd and Y the inferior stem-portion is wasted. 1

1 It has been sought to overcome the defects shown Fig. 3: by'theexpedient of cutting I the wrapper with its visible lappingedge substantially shortened from its true shape, so: that, in applyingthe wrapper, more than theprovided length is required: to fit properlyaround lthecigar; thereby taking up the looseness produced by the curving :of. the

leaf onthe die. But,' si11cetthe curving action produces varying :resultswithdifferent operators, with different-1 qualities of tobacco, and under different atmospheric conditions, this expedient only corrects the tron-- ble for the average case assumed in laying out the modified shape; when the curvature is greater than that assumed, the joints will still be loose, and when it is smaller, the Wrapper will be too tight and may tear at the laps.

The heavy dash lines in Fig. 2 show the :path of the wrapper from the cutting bed at F T to the starting positionFg T at the tuck end of the cigar bunch C in the wrapping mechanism. The flag end of the wrapper moves along the path F F F F making a part turn about its tuck end which at the same time moves along the path T T T T When it has arrived at F near the head or flag end of the cigar C, the'fiag end of the wrapper is carried along path F F .F F while the tuck end describes first a concave path T T and then a convex path T T From position F T the wrapper carrier returns in the reverse order, the wrapper being applied to the cigar bunch while moving from F T to F T from which point the carrier returns empty to the bed position F T to pick up the next wrap-v per. In the old position of the bed, the initial position of the wrapper is T F shown in dotted lines, the tuck end T taking the place of the flag end F and the flag end F that of the tuck end T To reach the position F T.,, from which the path of the wrapper must be the same as before so .as to pass along the cigar bunch in theproper positions for wrapping on its return path, the flag end moves along the approximately straight dotted path F F F F' and the tuck end along the dotted path Ti T T 3 T which joins the dash line path T T making a rather sharp turn.

The mechanism for performing the modified motion of the cut wrapper necessitated by the reversed position of the cutting'bed is as follows: The carrier unit is mounted on a hollow shaft 10 rotatable in the vertical bore 11 of a bracket 12 mounted on the bed plate 13 of the cigar machine. The upper end of shaft 10 is closed by a plug 14 while its lower end is connected by a pipe, not

respectively.

-17 v antd'l5uand shaft 10, withfithe suction apparatus referred to. The head 22 has the interchangeable bottom portion. 23 which is 5 formed to Sllit'i'llG shape .offthe wrapperto be applied and which is closedat its bottom by: the detachable carrier plate .24 provided 7 with rows ofisuitably'placed holes for..per-

mitting the suction to pick .up the cigar wrapper f-rem thec utting'bed'D when in position above thelatter. Theupperend of carrier head 22 is closed by. gear25 meshing with "gear segment 26 pivoted onstird 27 supportedbylug 28 of carrier arm '17.

' The extending end of segment 26 forms r the cam lever 29 carrying .cam roller '30. guided in cani 'track '31 of ia cam plate :32 mounted on carrierbracket 12. PCarrier arm. 17 has a cam levcr 33 carrying .roller 34 guided by cani track 35iof the cam plate 32. The lower endtofFhollow shaft 10.carries gear segment 36'meshing with gear segment 87 pivoted' on stud38' held'bybearing bracket ESQ-which is fasteil'ed to bedeplaterl3. Segment 87 is provided with a cam lever i0 cngagingby means of cam roller 41 in cam track42- of ca1n4'3 '.mounted.on the main drive shaft of. the lcigarx machine. In the operation of the machine for carrying .outrthe methodpthe carrier 23' must takelfthe cutwrappe-r from the bed D to the wrapper. applying position at the. tuck end ofthe cigar bunch C locatediu the wrapping device, must guide the wrapper along the cigar bunch While being wrapped and then goempty-toits initial position over the bed D,xalong thepath shown by the dashlines infFi'g: 2. This isaccomplished by. a combination ofthe turning motion of: hollow shaft 10 produced by. gearmsegment 37, of the pivotal movement of arni-17 produced by -cam lever33, and ofthe'turning motion of the .carrier head 22 by the. gear segment 26. Arm'15 onshaft 10 carries the pivot end. of arm-.17 alonga. circular path, while at'the same time. the 8111117 swings. around the moving pivot. and the carrier head 22 turns in the movingzfree end 21 of arn1f17;

allt-h ese movements being. guided by the cam tracks'3l, and 42 which are laid out for each-cigar shape to pjvethc carrier-head its correct position and proper speed at every pointof its path. The wrapper carrier is providedqvith. valves, not shown, which automatically control the suctionin the carrier head as required at the different stages of its motion. The carrier head 23 also communicates, through flexible pipe 44, with an air- I compressor, not shown, controlled by a valve which turns on compressed air to free the flag end of the wrapper from the 'carrier plate 24, in the position F T of the carrier head, at the moment when it leaves the nowfinished cigar C to return to the cutting bed for the next wrapper.

What is claimed is: 1. The method of applying a wrapper to a cigar bunch, which consists in stretching a leaf section over a wrapper cutting bed, superstretching the edge which is to form the overlap on the bunch, then cutting out a Wrapper from the leaf section so stretched and superstretched, and then applying the cutout stretched and superstretched wrapper in that condition to a cigar bunch, to avoid looseness at the overlap of the wrapper.

2. The method of applying a wrapper to a cigar bunch, which consists in stretching a leaf section over a wrapper cuttingbed, superstretching the outer edge of the leaf which is to form the overlap on the bunch, then cutting out a wrapper from the leaf -section so positioned and stretched and superstretched, and then applying the cutout stretched and superstretched wrapper in that condition to a cigar bunch, to avoid looseness at the overlap of the wrapper and T to avoid using the inferior part of the leaf section. V

3. The combination with a stationary Wrapper cutting bed provided with wrapper underlap and overlap sides positioned-with the wrapper overlap side nearerv the operator so that she will superstretch' a leaf section along that side, of means for taking a cutout wrapper from said bed and delivering it to a cigar bunch with the superstretched side of the wrapper forming the overlap on the bunch.

4. The combination with a stationary wrapper cutting bed provided with wrapper underlap and overlap sides positioned with the wrapper overlap side nearer the operator so that she will superstretch a leaf section along that side, of means for taking a cutout wrapper from said bed and delivering it to a cigar bunch with the super' stretched side of the wrapper forming the overlap on the bunch, said means including a rotatable shaft, and cam means controlling said carrier unit to move it to a position overlying the cutting bed to pick up the wrapper and deliver it to the cigar bunch. 5. The combination with a stationary wrapper cutting bed provided with wrapper underlap and overlap sides positioned with the wrapper overlap side nearer the operatorso that she will superstretch a leafsecti'on along that side, of means fortaking a cutout wrapper from said bed and delivering JOHN FREDRIK HALSTEAD. 

